By By Adam Prestridge
Prior to Monday afternoon's council meeting, pastor Bernard Bishop had a vision to educate the youth of Atmore for the betterment of their futures.
The Atmore City Council helped to make that vision a reality by granting Bishop his request of use of Houston Avery Park for an Educational Fun Day for local youth.
"Our motive for this event is to get all Atmore youth from all denominations, all ethnic groups and social status in trying to bring together a gathering of gifted youth," Bishop said.
Bishop said there would be free food, fun and games at the fun day. Some of the games will include 3-on-3 basketball, softball, tennis, and ping-pong. Among the free food will be pizza, hamburgers, hotdogs, cotton candy and snow cones.
"Everything is absolutely free for the kids to enjoy," Bishop said.
Bishop is teaming up with his church, Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Christ, and pastor Hattie Bishop to hold the event, which is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. and end with a concert at 7 p.m.
"Our heart goes out to some of our young people that don't have any direction in the city," Bishop said. "And we are hoping at this particular event to get some of them turned around before this next school year starts."
Bishop said the Escambia County Health Department will be on hand holding seminars on a broad range of topics including health awareness, AIDS, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. Free AIDS testing will also be available.
New Huxford Elementary School principal Donna Silcox will also be a guest speaker at the event with a program topic on the importance of getting a good education. Bishop said officers from the Atmore Work Release Program will bring some people from the prison system to do some workshops and talk with the children about the importance of staying out of trouble and where trouble can land them in the future if they make the wrong choices.
Mobile-based Christian group, "The Truth Seeker," and 2007 Mayfest Idol winner and Atmore resident Felecia Bishop will close the event with two concerts featuring inspirational music.
Atmore mayor Howard Shell was impressed with Bishop's idea and he, along with the rest of the council, fully supported his effort.
"It sounds like an awfully good program you've got outlined and I sincerely hope it is met with the same spirit in which you are doing it," he said. "It has all the ingredients of what we would like to see happen in our parks under the banner of good Christian leadership."